Medieval Master Swordsmen(433)

“I do.”

“Then I will tell you something else, Garren.”

Garren couldn’t help it; his eyes narrowed. “By all means, my lord. Tell me something else.”

It was a tone that William had never heard from Garren before, threatening and deadly. But it did not deter him. “You will ride from Chepstow at the head of my army,” he said quietly. “You will ride north to Nottingham and meet the mercenary army in battle. You will lead the armies of Richard to victory. Richard’s reign is everything; you and I are nothing. Merely expendable figures in this great chess match of Life. And along with you and me as pawns, there are many other players. Your wife, for one. Fergus for another.”

Garren hated the horror creeping into his veins. It was all he could do to keep his hands from wrapping around the Marshal’s throat.

“What in the hell does that mean?”

“It means that Fergus de Edwin works for me. He has always worked for me. He befriended you on my orders and has been assigned to watch you since he was quite young. He has been my eyes on you, though I never truly believed you needed watching until recent events. It means that, even now, Fergus has orders. I assume he is at Cilgarren, is he not?”

Garren knew that all of the color had drained from his face. “How do you know this?”

“How do you suppose? Fergus suggested the place, and I agreed.” The Marshal’s gaze grew hard. “As you disobeyed me, I was one step ahead of you. Always one step ahead, Garren.”

Something snapped inside Garren and he pushed forward, coming to within an inch of William’s face. The expression on his face was sheer murder.

“If she is touched, I will kill you myself.”

The Marshal wasn’t the least bit intimidated. “She will be fine providing you do as you are told. And what you are told is to ride north at the head of my army. Any premature return to Cilgarren, any glimpse of you within the next six months in return for your wife, and Fergus has orders to kill her. She’ll be dead before you can stop him. This is something you have forced me to do, Garren. As you love your wife, I love England more. I would do anything to protect and serve her, including blackmailing you.”

Garren was struggling not to show his emotion, so much so that his lips were white. Suddenly, everything he had ever believed about his life was a masquerade. People he had trusted and loved did not trust him. He had been betrayed.

His mind began to swirl and he labored to stop the building madness. Had he stood there any longer gazing into William’s eyes, he would have strangled him. With the greatest effort, he pulled himself away and paced the floor, slowly, struggling with every fiber of his being to clear his thoughts. He had to regain control if he was going to get himself and Derica out of this alive.

The conversation he had with Fergus in the gatehouse filled his brain. It was the most peculiar conversation they had ever had. Unspoken words and innuendos had brought Garren to the conclusion that Fergus may have actually worked for the Prince. But that was not the case. He wondered why the deception, the evasiveness. Fergus was trying to throw him off track, yet he had been trying to protect him also. Garren began to realize that Fergus was trying to steer him away from Chepstow. Fergus knew what was waiting for him. He had been trying to convince him to stay at Cilgarren and stay far away from Chepstow.

Fergus had known. Garren felt like a fool for not understanding what his friend had been trying to tell him.

“Fergus promised me that he would protect her,” he heard himself mutter. “I cannot believe that he would betray his word.”

William could feel himself weakening. He loved Garren like a son and it was a difficult situation. He was a man, too, and could understand the pangs that came with love. But he understood England more, and knew what was necessary to preserve her future. Garren was, and always had been, an integral part of that plan.

“He will protect her as long as you fulfill your duty,” William said quietly. “She could be in no better hands.”

Garren didn’t respond. He was shutting William out, killing all of the feelings of admiration and affection he had ever experienced for the old man. William sensed this.

“Garren,” he got as close to him as he dared, afraid that in his turmoil the knight might actually strike out. “I will promise you this; lead our armies to victory and I will release you from Richard’s service. I will provide you with an army of your own, lands and title, so that you and your wife may live your years in comfort and security. Do as I ask now and your future is secure. Betray me and you shall lose everything.”

Garren looked at him, his eyes full of venom and resignation. He knew he had no choice and there was nothing left to say but the obvious.